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Increasing our Faith (2 Peter 1:3-11) | Archive 2025

T B Denis/02/10/2021

Increasing our Faith

2 Peter 1:3-11

Introduction.

Through faith we were called to the obedience of the gospel from which we received great and precious promises enabling us to partake of the divine nature of God through the Holy Spirit that He gave to us.

• But faith needs to grow in order that we can successfully overcome temptations, trials, the desires of the flesh, and the flaming arrows from the evil one who is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Apostle Peter explains that faith needs to be applied to our lives through the righteous virtues given to us by Jesus in his precious words.

He also warns us of the danger of ineffective and unproductive faith caused by the lack of effort on our part to apply godly virtues, in increasing measure, to our lives.

Main Points:

I – Obtaining our Faith – 2 Peter 1:3-4

1. We received Faith through the righteousness of God and Savior Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:1

2. Faith comes from hearing the message about Christ – Romans 10:17

3. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen – Hebrews 11:1

4. We cannot please God without Faith – Hebrews 11:6

5. The end result of our Faith is the salvation of our souls – 1 Peter 1:9

6. Through Faith that led to our obedience to the gospel, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3

7. Through them we received great and precious promises – so that we can participate in the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:4-5a

8. We have escaped corruption in this world caused by evil desires – 2 Peter 1:4b

II – Building up our Faith – 2 Peter 1:5-7

1. Faith without action is dead - James 2:17

2. The wise man hears his words and puts them into practice – Matthew 7:24

3. Adding virtues to our Faith in increasing measure.

4. Compare these virtues:

   1. Be clothed with Jesus Christ – Colossians 3:12-14;

   2. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22

5. Constant practice of our Faith leads us to maturity – Hebrews 5:14

III - The danger of a stagnant Faith –1 Peter 1:8-9

1. One becomes ineffective

2. One becomes unfruitful; unproductive

3. One is nearsighted – blind – no foresight

4. Faith becomes stagnant. Example: stagnant water breeds dirt, insects, etc..

IV– Reward to those who put their Faith into practice: - 2 Peter 1:10-11

1. We will never fall.

   • By this, we can be confident of our calling and election.

2. We are provided with an entrance to heaven

• Jesus prepared a mansion for us in heaven. (John 14:1-3)